Ron had asked him not to go again, but Harry couldn't help it. He was sure there was something powerful and good about that mirror.

He wove through hallways on autopilot thinking vividly of what he knew he would see when he reached the mirror. It was more important than anything else in the world that he see what was in the mirror again.

There was a brief feeling of guilt about betraying Ron's trust in him, before it was overwhelmed with anticipation over seeing the mirror and its wondrous reflection.

Harry moved quickly through the halls, and breezed right by Snape who was stalking the halls, not noticing that he turned to look at what disturbed the still night air. He passed Mrs. Norris at a crossing corridor, and never noticed when Peeves went zooming by cackling as Filch chased after him.

Then he reached the door and stormed into the room never noticing the shimmer of air next to the door and flung off his invisibility cloak and gazed lovingly into his parents' faces in the mirror. He stayed still like that his eyes switching back and forth from his mother's brilliant green eyes to his father's hazel ones.

It was then that it occurred to him, 'wouldn't it be great if I could be with them?' Harry leaned closer to the mirror and when his lips were almost touching his reflection he breathed so quietly there was almost no sound at all, "I'll be back to stay tomorrow."

The shimmer next to the door shifted as though trying to hear the secret Harry had confided in his reflection. But before he could reveal himself the first year was gone and he was standing in a darkened room all by himself, with only an old mirror he dare not look into for company.

The next day Harry spent alone in the library, having chased Ron off with a tale of doing his homework, which Ron would avoid at all costs. He really did do an essay for Quirrell's class, due on the first day after winter break, but he didn't pay much attention to it. Instead he looked through old musty tomes and new books added to the collection only the last summer in search of the right spell.

He needed something very specific, and he had to find exactly the right one. He worked through lunch, and dinner, even though Ron came to try to collect him at both mealtimes. It was just as Madam Pince was about to kick him out of the library. It was a brief mention in a small section of the sixth year book from the year before. But it was perfect.

As Harry left the library he completely missed the pitying look that the stern library gave him.

Harry left that night after Ron was fast asleep and snoring. He took his cloak, but almost forgot it under his pillow, it wasn't that important anyway.

But Tonight there was no Snape, no Filch, no Peeves, no Mrs. Norris. There was also no shimmer beside the door, or anywhere else, and he made his way to the mirror in complete silence.

"Hey mom, dad, I'm going to join you now," Harry whispered to the figures smiling in the mirror. His parents gave him encouraging looks, seemingly urging him to do what he planned.

So Harry pulled his wand from his pocket and closed his eyes.

"Avada Kedavra,"